Bloomsbury Book Auctions change their name and move to Mayfair

Bloomsbury Book Auctions are changing their name to Bloomsbury Auctions and moving to new premises at Bloomsbury House, a substantial refurbished building in Maddox Street, Mayfair.

The changes are part of an expansion programme that has come about since Stocklight, who also own leading book and print dealer Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books, acquired the firm in the summer of 2000.

The name change reflects Bloomsbury’s ambitions across a wider field than their traditional expertise, while the move to new premises brings them closer to the heart of the auction and dealing world of Mayfair – and Mr Shapero’s own gallery round the corner at 32 St George Street.

Tommaso Zanzotto, chairman of Stocklight, who vowed to keep Bloomsbury separate from Shapero’s when they acquired the company, said, “Both live and online auctions are expanding rapidly and Bloomsbury Auctions is well placed to benefit from growth in these two areas.

“Over the last two decades Bloomsbury has established its reputation as the leading London specialist saleroom for books and works on paper; the move to new premises in central London, combined with the increased number of specialist sales, will contribute to doubling its turnover.”

Bloomsbury Mayfair will launch in April with the sale of a major private collection of hand-written diaries by a pivotal figure in British polar exploration.

“We aim to create the world’s leading venue for the sale of books, manuscripts and works on paper,” said managing director Rupert Powell.

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